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An environmental advocacy group is suing the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, demanding that the agency disclose plans outlining oil and gas drilling in state parks.

The Ohio chapter of the Sierra Club said that Natural Resources officials have ignored public-records requests for documents regarding drilling in state parks and other public lands.

The group’s first request was made in October, said manager Jed Thorp.

“A six-month timeline to get a request granted is completely unreasonable,” he said.

That month, former Natural Resources Director David Mustine’s staff said the agency expected to have a model lease for drilling in parks as early as January. Nothing was made public.

The suit, filed with the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, seeks a court order to release the records. The agency also will have to pay court fees, attorney costs and other fines if a judge sides with the Sierra Club.

Carlo LoParo, a Natural Resources spokesman, said officials are still working on the Sierra Club’s request as well as others. The Dispatch filed a similar request on March 19.

“We are in the final stages of gathering information to comply with (the Sierra Club’s) request,” LoParo said. “We will make the information available once it’s complete.”

State parks and public lands were opened to drilling under a state law enacted Sept. 30. Natural Resources officials are supposed to develop the terms and conditions for oil and gas leases.

The law creates a five-member Oil and Gas Leasing Commission, which will select state properties and lease the mineral rights to the highest-bidding drilling company. Proceeds would go to the host agency or state university.

Leasing commissioners have not been appointed, and the rules the commission will operate under won't be enacted until June 30 at the earliest.

Mustine left Natural Resources in the fall to work for the Ohio Department of Development. He was replaced by James Zehringer on Nov. 15.

When asked what changed, LoParo said Zehringer wanted “to apply a fresh perspective” to the agency’s plans for drilling in parks.

“He wanted to make sure that the process moving forward was well thought-out and comprehensive.”

Sierra Club attorney Richard Sahli said the organization asked for documents during an Oct. 25 meeting with Natural Resources officials and filed written requests in November and February.